Hypertension is a
long-term health condition whereby the blood pressure in the arteries is constantly elevated. Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within blood vessels and is measured in ‘millimetres of mercury’ (mmHg) using
two numbers; for example, 120/80mmHg.
According to the NHS, more than one in
four adults in the UK have high blood pressure but many won’t even realise it. The only way to find out is by having your blood pressure checked.
Noticeable symptoms of hypertension are
rare as the only time someone
will notice symptoms of hypertension
will be when their blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels. This is known as hypertensive crisis and the symptoms for this include severe headaches and anxiety, chest
pain and an irregular heartbeat.
Hypertension puts lots of strain on blood vessels, the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of the following serious, and potentially life-threatening medical conditions:
Heart Disease.
Heart Attacks.
Kidney Disease.
Vascular
dementia.
Strokes.
Heart
Failure.
Ways of treating and managing hypertension include:
Watching your diet – Avoid foods high in saturated fat and
sugar. Replace them with fruits and vegetables.
Leading an active lifestyle – Begin adding more exercise to your day. Start by walking regularly and then move onto jogging if you can.
